This is why I hate hospitals.

Arrived five minutes early and went to Paediatric Assessment unit. To be told it’s moved in the ten days since I last visited it. Carry heavy car seat back out into corridor and go back on myself. See that there are indeed small paper signs saying where I am is now Paediatric Investigation unit. Assessment unit is in nearby ward.

Arrive on time at new location, wait to be buzzed in. Despite health visitor making appt on phone we are not on any appointment lists. So now I’m sitting in the empty schoolroom as is only place we can be apart from possibly infectious children while a nurse tries to work out what to do with us and I try to ignore the sound of screaming children.

It’s now 16.35. Wonder how long we’ll be waiting. Wish I’d brought food and drink for me.

17.00. Tigerboy has been stripped and weighed, had a urine bag attached, which he filled immediately, and we’re back in the schoolroom feeding, along with another mother also here for jaundice investigation. Her baby is only a few days old though. Quite nice chat about benefits of breastfeeding. And now we’re waiting again.

18.30 still no sign of a doctor. Other family has been moved to a cubicle. Have at least been given some food, as I’m a feeding mother. It was quite nice actually.

I can’t quite believe how they’ve been talking to the other parents actually. And in front of me, as if I’m not here. Bizarre.

19.20. Still no sign of a doctor. Only positive out of all this is I’ve finished my craft swap item. If I can find the first bit I did. And the finishing off bits I need. Am getting a bit stressed by the waiting and the lack of any input. Gah.

20.10. Bloods finally taken. Will take about an hour to be processed. How I didn’t scream as loud as him I don’t know. Listening to discussion at the desk it seems a few ppl have been here hours and not seen. Don’t know what’s going on. Also this unit closes at 9pm so don’t know what they’re planning on doing with us then.

And the answer is move us to a ward. At around 9 I was taken through and put in a single cot room with another family. I was offered toast and more water. Twenty minutes later the Dr came and took me and tigerboy to another room where she took a history and examined him, and apologised for the delays. Now she’s gone to chase up blood results, but she’s talking about how jaundice should have stopped by now, and possibly giving up breastfeeding to see if that resolves it. And we’ve to come back in two days time to go through all this again.

It’s 21.55. I’m shattered. I just want to be at home in bed. I’m hoping my car hadn’t been clamped and wishing t’internet worked in here so I could post this.

22.22. Going home.


Comments

13 responses to “This is why I hate hospitals.”

  1. Is it just you & I who have this issue or everyone. I’m surprised they manage to function at all. Sorry to hear things not going to plan. What’s up?

  2. What an experience and sadly what seems to be the ‘norm’ these days. Shocked to hear they suggested the possibility of giving up breastfeeding! Hope you have a shorter wait and a better answer in 2 days x

  3. How awful! After I was in hospital we found communication between hospital and the district nurse was just as shambolic.

  4. Ugh! BTDT with Erica, she was still fluorescent at 4 weeks. Our hospital told us it’s because breastfed babies take a smaller volume of liquid in than bottlefed babies do, it takes longer for the jaundice to dissipate but up to 8 weeks is considered safe and normal? Why can’t they just stick him under the toaster?
    Much love xx

  5. Ah I am sorry you did not get sorted today, what a drag having to wait and wait. But hopefully it might right itself in the couple of days, I cant remember the messing about, but I can remember being in for 3 nights and it was a pain cos my fella had to stay in the billibed for the light, and he wanted out of it all the time, so hopefully you dont have to go in, please god x

  6. Pixieminx avatar
    Pixieminx

    Giving up breast feeding !?! OMG. Not shocked at the treatment, seems standard unfortunately. Really hope Tigerboy evens out soon. Thoughts with you. xx

  7. Nightmare! Hoping the jaundice clears soon. From your last post the weight gain doesn’t sound that bad, actually. I don’t see how stopping breastfeeding is a solution but am sadly not surprised that it’s been suggested. If they really think he’s not getting enough they should be helping work out what’s actually going on. Anyway, wishing you less hospital time and more time snuggling your baby in the comfort of your home.

  8. Oh no! Poor you and baby. I’ve been in same position several times and it’s horrid. I hope there is a speedy improvement so you don’t have to return xx

  9. Giving up b/feeding for Jaundice is absolute bull. Cant believe they still say stuff like this! Not surprised at all the waiting and faffing, sadly it seems to be standard practice.
    Hoping it sorts itself out soon. x

  10. Just catching up! Really sorry to read all of this, i’ve been stuck in the paed A & E loads of times so I really can empathise. I hope the little fella gets better soon Xxx

  11. This really is disgusting. I know we are lucky to have the NHS and I do appreciate it but it desperately needs a shake up. I see some comments here say this is the norm. But we all know it shouldn’t be the norm. We live in a country where we are taxed to the eyeballs and pay national insurance towards our health service, yet we are treated like second class citizens in a place we should feel comforted.
    I hope everything will be okay.
    CJ x

  12. Hope all is OK. Shocked at suggestion of stopping breastfeeding. Thinking of you. T xxx

  13. Alison Sauer avatar
    Alison Sauer

    Carol is right. Giving up breastfeeding is incorrect. There is medically only one reason to not breastfeed and that is if the results from the heelprick test show a metabolic disorder. Jaundice is not a reason to give up.
    If you are put under pressure to give up feel free to contact me and I will be happy to give you some ammunition in the form of either a list of medical references or an advocacy statement (for the baby)

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